Independence Day is such a fun, summer-y holiday! From barbecued hot dogs to outdoor games to fireworks, the 4th of July can be a lot of fun! I love helping my kids understand the meaning of the holiday and sacrifices of our founding fathers in the fight for independence. In this post I share some of my favorite Fourth of July living history books as well as a few fun activities to help the origin of this holiday come to life for kids. Enjoy!
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Books About Independence Day
The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh
Alice Dalgliesh does a beautiful job of telling the story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birthday of our country. She ties the whole story together by telling of the ringing of the Liberty Bell – a moving reminder of the fight for independence. This read-aloud has pages of text mixed in with beautiful illustrations by Marie Nonnast. I usually break the book into sections as it is a longer read.
The Story of America’s Birthday by Patricia A. Pingry
Short and sweet, The Story of America’s Birthday explains the origins of the holiday in a very simple way for toddlers and preschoolers. With cute illustrations and only a few sentences per page, this board book is one that can hold the attention of even the youngest listeners. I enjoy this series by Patricia A. Pingry because the books are perfect for helping little ones understand what a holiday is all about.
The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Country by Mike Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears have been around since I was a little girl! The newer additions to the series are written by Mike Bernstein, including God Bless Our Country. The Bear family discovers the meaning of Independence Day in addition to enjoying some traditional Fourth of July activities together as a family. Older preschoolers to elementary-aged kids will enjoy this book in the Berenstain Bear series.
Looking for more books about this period in our nation’s history? I did a whole post on books for kids about the American Revolution that you can check out HERE!
Activities for the Fourth of July
In addition to reading about what we are celebrating on Independence Day, doing simple activities with my kids helps us make this holiday special and encourages them to remember what it’s all about. Here are some simple ideas of things to do with your kids (a simple search for 4th of July crafts or activities would give you tons more!):
Make a Flag
Use red, white, and blue construction paper and stick glue to create an American flag. You could cut strips of paper for the stripes and use star stickers or a white pencil or crayon to draw the stars (unless you want to cut out 50 tiny stars – in which case, good for you!). Discuss different American flags through the years and let kids choose which one they want to create. As a bonus, you could read about Betsy Ross and the first American flag!
Make a Fourth of July Dessert
There are tons of fun, red, white, and blue desserts you can make including cake and cookie mixes that are made specifically for the holiday! One idea I love is to make a fruit platter that looks like a flag. Use blueberries for the blue, strawberries or watermelon for the red, and bananas or cheese for the white parts. The possibilities are endless! You could even mix it up and use different fruits or other snacks for each stripe.
Read the Declaration of Independence …Or Look at Photos of the Real Thing!
Reading the actual words of the Declaration of Independence can be really moving. However, the old English wording and more complex ideas make this difficult for younger kids to follow. Unless your child has an advanced attention span, I would recommend doing this only with upper elementary or older. (Younger kids might enjoy the opening sentence and then having you explain the meaning behind the words.)
For both younger and older kids, looking at a photo of the actual Declaration can be a fun and easy activity! The internet has tons of photos of the real Declaration of Independence if you just do a quick search. I find that experiencing the real-life aspects of history help kids connect it to reality in a deeper way than simply hearing a story. Looking at photos of the Declaration and talking about it together will help your kids connect history to real life!
Make Your Own Declaration of Independence
Kids can make their own Declaration of Independence using brown construction paper or even brown paper bags. (Cut down one of the paper bag seams and then cut out the bottom and discard. Then you can flatten the paper bag and use the blank side as a thick brown paper.) Kids can copy down the opening sentence of the Declaration (or a few paragraphs for older kids) on the brown paper. Then crumple the paper and use your hands to flatten back out (this will give it more of an aged look).
Look at Photos of the Liberty Bell
Again, you can find tons of photos and information about the Liberty Bell online. I like to pair this activity with my reading of The Fourth of July Story, since it focuses so much on the role of the Liberty Bell in the fight for American independence. I think the more we can help kids connect history to real-life, the better!
Talking about Jesus and True Freedom
Finally, I think no discussion of freedom is complete without talking with my kids about the freedom that we have in Jesus because of His work on the Cross. Freedom from the rule of Britain is a really amazing part of our country’s story, but freedom from the power and punishment of sin is the most amazing thing we could hope for our kids. I use Independence Day as another opportunity to point my kids to the Gospel.
Let’s Get Reading!
I hope that these books and ideas give you a place to start as you consider how to make the 4th of July more meaningful for your kids. Happy Reading!